Mauricio Pochettino admits he would 'love' Spurs to win FA Cup but maintains 'higher level' is the goal

What should be the ultimate aim for a club like Tottenham Hotspur? For many, the answer is simple: silverware. For Mauricio Pochettino, it is more complex.

The Tottenham manager’s view on the importance of trophies, and his refusal to submit to the general thinking that his side must win a competition soon if they are to have anything to show for this period of excellence, has raised more than a few eyebrows this season.

Speaking after his side strolled to a 3-0 win over Swansea in this FA Cup quarter-final, Pochettino was at pains to make himself clear. He would “love” to win the FA Cup, he said. “I never said that it’s not important to win this competition.”

But more important for Pochettino is the “status” of the club, and his mission to take Tottenham to a greater plane. In his view, an FA Cup or League Cup triumph will not elevate his side to that “higher level”.

“In the cups, you can arrive to the semi-final or final and win, like Swansea [League Cup winners in 2013] or Wigan [FA Cup winners in 2013], who were then relegated. That is not going to help create a winning mentality, to win this type of trophy.

“For me, when you are consistently winning in the Premier League or the best competition in the world like the Champions League, that helps you to create [a winning mentality].”

He added: “People believe you win one trophy to give to the club a different status or put the club in a different level and that is not true. Win a trophy, it’s OK, to celebrate with the fans will be a great moment.

“This type of competition is about enjoying the process and about enjoying when you lift the trophy, but it’s not going to give a different level or status as winning the Premier League or the Champions League to put the club on a higher level.

“I wanted to say Tottenham have no need to win the FA Cup or the League Cup to put ourselves or the club in a different level. That will be fantastic to share with the fans and everything, but it’s not going to put you at the level we want to be.

“To put the club in the last level, now, is to finish the new stadium, to have one of the best facilities and training ground in England or to have the best stadium in England or in Europe, that is the basis to have the possibility to put the club at the last level.”

Two goals from the majestic Christian Eriksen and a fine finish from Erik Lamela downed an abject Swansea side, who will now focus fully on securing Premier League safety.

Carlos Carvalhal, the Swansea manager, was without new signing Andre Ayew, who was cup-tied after playing for West Ham earlier in the competition.

“I believe this rule came from the past,” Carvalhal said. “I believe that we must change the rule.”